Peña Nieto must first receive the presidential nomination of his party through the internal selection process.

The former Mexico State governor Peña Nieto made his intention to run for the presidency official last week after leaving the governor’s post.

Meanwhile, Mexico City’s current mayor Marcelo Ebrard challenged Peña Nieto to debate about the results in both their administrations, according to a report by NotiMex. Mayor Ebrard officially announced his intention to compete for his leftist Democratic Revolutionary Party’s presidential nomination last week as well.

But Ebrard will have to overcome the persistent Andrés Manuel López Obrador who is hoping for resurgence and presidential finish this time around.

But then, could Mexico be ready for a female president?

Some on the right believe that Josefina Vázquez Mota has a decent shot at the presidency and have her numbers at 35 percent of the preferences among Panistas, with Santiago Creel following closely with 31 percent — according to pollster Consulta Mitofsky.

Vazquez Mota was the first woman to head the Ministry of Social Development in 2000 and later in 2006 became the Minister of Education. Recently, Vazquez Mota left her job coordinating a committee of the lower chamber of congress.

In 2006, Sen. Creel was edged in the PAN’s internal selection process by the now President Felipe Calderón. The senator was the Minister of the Interior, during the presidency of Vicente Fox and many saw him as the party’s favorite back then.